"Culture Warrior" O'Reilly, who chided Dean over Book of Job misidentification, says Revelation "was written -- what? Five thousand years ago?"

On the November 13 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, while discussing the "secularists" and their refusal to acknowledge the "holy war going on," Bill O'Reilly cited the Book of Revelation, the final scripture in the New Testament, saying, "This was written -- what? Five thousand years ago?" But the Book of Revelation, which addresses the end of the world and the return of Jesus Christ, was, according to the book itself, written by "John" on the Greek isle of Patmos, after receiving "[t]he Revelation of Jesus Christ" (who was born about 2,000 years ago). The next day on his Fox News show, O'Reilly distorted actor/director George Clooney's comments on religion, claiming that Clooney is a "vivid example" of "the far left that is putting all of us in danger right now."

On his radio show, O'Reilly instructed a caller to "go to Revelations in the Bible and look at the prediction for the end of the world," telling him, "It's fascinating, because it does involve the Middle East, and it does involve the clash of cultures." O'Reilly continued: "I'm not trying to convert you to be a Bible-thumper. I'm just saying it's an interesting read. This was written -- what? Five thousand years ago? I mean, this is really interesting." O'Reilly concluded: "Nobody knows what's gonna happen, but there is a holy war going on, and the ACLU and the LA Times are simply not willing to fight it in any effective way. That's the truth." But, according to the book itself, the Book of Revelation was written by "John" after receiving "[t]he Revelation of Jesus Christ." From the first chapter of the King James translation of Revelation (verses 1 and 9):

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

[...]

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Every generation has embraced some degree of apocalypticism. Doomsday cults have a special affection for dates, like those hidden in mystical texts or astrological calendars. But even when dates are not significant, evidence of an impending cataclysm has been found in everything from the Protestant Reformation, England's civil war and the French Revolution to this century's world wars, the atomic age and, most recently, the specter of environmental self-destruction.

It is doubtful that St. John had any of this in mind when he was writing the Book of Revelation on the Greek island of Patmos around A.D. 90, not least because its original Greek title, Apokalipsis, means ''unveiling'' and not the end of the world. Rather, he seemed to be reassuring early Christians that their persecutors would be punished. The beast destroyed in the Battle of Armageddon is now thought to be Rome's self-proclaimed God-Emperor, Domitian.

O'Reilly previously mocked Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean when he incorrectly identified the Book of Job as a scripture in the New Testament, when, in fact, it is an Old Testament book. During the January 5, 2004, edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly stated: "[E]verybody's going to remember that Howard Dean didn't know that Job was in the Old Testament." He later added: "Even the ... Lieberman Democrats, the Edwards Democrats. They're traditional. They don't want this big shock, all right, and they want their people to know that Job was in the Old Testament." Two days later, responding to Fox News commentator Dick Morris' claim that then-Mexican president Vicente Fox won his country's presidential election in part because "he won on a pro-Catholic thing," O'Reilly stated: "Howard Dean's even trying to do that now, if he can figure out where Job is in the Bible." Morris then said, "It's sort of my nightmare. You're trying to brief a candidate running for president, and you have to tell him where Job is," to which O'Reilly replied: "That's why I don't think Howard Dean is as solid as you think he is and some others."

On the November 14 O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly read an email from a viewer who claimed: "George Clooney was right. One of the reasons the English came to America was to escape religious persecution. How about a signed 'Kids Are Americans Too'?" O'Reilly replied: "Can't do it. ... Clooney said America separated from England because of religious fraction -- dead wrong. No book for you." O'Reilly later asserted: "When we separated from England, it was because of taxation and a bad king. Jesus had nothing to do with it." In fact, Clooney did not claim that we "separated" from England. According to a quote attributed to Clooney that O'Reilly read and showed on-screen during the November 13 edition of his TV show, Clooney said, referring to Rudy Giuliani: '[He] might end up winning the nomination from the Christian right. That tells you the rest of the country is a little bit moved away from the idea of this 'Jesus is right about everything' kind of mood. I'm not knocking religion, but there was a reason that we left England." O'Reilly then asserted: "Of course, that reason was taxation without representation -- nothing to do with Jesus, George. Just setting the record straight."

From the November 14 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: Jim Sebastian, Kansas City, Kansas: "George Clooney was right. One of the reasons the English came to America was to escape religious persecution. How about a signed 'Kids Are Americans Too'?"

Can't do it, Jim. Clooney said America separated from England because of religious fraction -- dead wrong. No book for you.

And Sheryl Smith, Houston: "Bill, you were great on 'The View'. Thanks for saying parents have to set boundaries and for telling kids that in your new book."

Well, I'm sending you Kids Are Americans Too, Sheryl, because you deserve it more than Jim. OK? When we separated from England, it was because of taxation and a bad king. Jesus had nothing to do with it.

From the November 13 edition of The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: And it is the far left that is putting all of us in danger right now, opposing every anti-terror measure and demonizing those with whom they disagree.

Here's a vivid example: Actor George Clooney is about as radical left as they come. Clooney sees himself as a great statesman, a perceptive thinker. In a recent interview, Clooney continues to denigrate conservatives and says a number of very interesting things.

Quote, "During the Salem witch hunt, the liberals thought there was no such thing as witches, and the conservative view was that '[t]hey're witches and they all have to die.' "

Wow, who knew that conservatives executed 19 people way back in 1692? George certainly has a long memory.

More Clooney quote: "Anybody who's running [for president] who's gone through the Sixties and didn't smoke a joint, I don't want you for president. You haven't lived at all. What the 'f' is wrong with you?"

That's right, cannabis consumption should be a litmus test for the presidency. Right on, George.

Finally, Clooney weighs in on Rudy Giuliani, quote, "[He] might end up winning the nomination from the Christian right. That tells you the rest of the country is a little bit moved away from the idea of 'this Jesus is right about everything' kind of mood. I'm not knocking religion, but there was a reason we left England."

Of course, that reason was taxation without representation -- nothing to do with Jesus, George. Just setting the record straight.

Now, I'm mocking Clooney, because he is the epitome of far-left lunacy. He despises conservatives. He wants a brave new world. Smoke pot, save the witches. Clooney and others like him do great damage to traditional liberals. Because George has a platform, some Americans believe all on the left think like he does. They do not.

From the November 13 edition of Westwood One's The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:

O'REILLY: Waco, Texas, Jim. What's goin' on, Jim?

CALLER: I admire you enormously, and I totally agree with your assessment out there in Los Angeles. I'd like to plant a seed, and you may or may not be willing to entertain it, but your book, Culture Warrior -- I haven't had a chance to read it, but I've heard you discussing it many times -- talks about the major issues, and I think that's what's at play here; that, you know, it is the forces that celebrate life against forces that celebrate death.

Look at jihadism, and you'll see that they celebrate death, and the same thing goes here; that, you know, the Bible, 2,000 years ago, talked very specifically about the final times -- the End Times -- and it's going to involve Israel. It's gonna involve Armageddon, that whole region -- and the fight is going to be between life and death.

O'REILLY: Well, you know, it's true, and it's -- anybody who wants an interesting read -- and send Jim a copy of Culture Warrior -- go to Revelations in the Bible and look at the prediction for the end of the world. It's fascinating, because it does involve the Middle East, and it does involve the clash of cultures, as Jim pointed out.

Now, a lot of people think that's superstition, nonsense, all of that. The secularists reject it out of hand. And I'm not trying to convert you to be a Bible-thumper. I'm just saying it's an interesting read. This was written -- what? Five thousand years ago? I mean, this is really interesting. So, I don't know. Nobody knows what's gonna happen, but there is a holy war going on, and the ACLU and the LA Times are simply not willing to fight it in any effective way. That's the truth.

We'll be back.

From the January 5, 2004, edition of The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: And then he says I like Jesus. I'm a big Jesus supporter.

And then he says, you know, and then some guy asks him -- which is why he won't come on the Factor -- he said, "Well, what do you like about the scripture?" And Dean doesn't know what he's talking about. He puts Job in the New Testament, OK?

Now, this is a joke. This is a -- you know, he's a secularist. And he's a leftist right now. I don't know what he's going to be two months from now. But [former Clinton White House counsel] Lanny [Davis], you're never going to -- everybody's going to remember that Howard Dean didn't know that Job was in the Old Testament. He's a phony -- that he's running on the left because that's where his traction is. He's not going to be able to come back. He's not. Go ahead.

DAVIS: All right, thank you. Number one: I think any Democrat, including Howard Dean, is going to beat George Bush because of a concern about the way the Iraq situation continues to cost American lives. And a lot of Americans are asking themselves, "Why should that continue?"

[...]

COMSTOCK: And you're right. The press will prop him up, and that will help. But I think the American people have this common sense that I think you often try to highlight --

O'REILLY: Yes. I mean, look, at this juncture --

COMSTOCK: -- and point out to people that when they hear him, they will understand.

O'REILLY: Here's what I have. Here's what I have for you. At this juncture, all right, if things stay the same next November as they are January 4 -- January 5, 2004, Dean carries eight states. That's what he's got, eight.

He won't carry anymore than that, if things get better in Iraq and the economy continues to improve because, as you said, American people don't want a huge change in this country. They are basically a traditional people. Even the Democrats are.

Even the -- you know, the Lieberman Democrats, the Edwards Democrats. They're traditional. They don't want this big shock, all right, and they want their people to know that Job was in the Old Testament.

They want that, all right. They don't want a secularist.

COMSTOCK: Very good point, Bill.

From the January 7, 2004, edition of The O'Reilly Factor:

MORRIS: And, you know, Vicente Fox was my client in Mexico, which is not why I'm saying this. I don't work for him now. But he won on a pro-Catholic thing. He went to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and he changed the tradition of secular governance in Mexico --

O'REILLY: Well --

MORRIS: -- to make it link to the --

O'REILLY: Howard Dean's even trying to do that now, if he can figure out where Job is in the Bible.

MORRIS: That's right. Actually --

O'REILLY: A little arrow here.

MORRIS: It's sort of my nightmare. You're trying to brief a candidate running for president, and you have to tell him where Job is.

O'REILLY: Yes, Job. But, look, his --

MORRIS: It's not in the debate handbook.

O'REILLY: That's why I don't think Howard Dean is as solid as you think he is and some others.

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